FILM-MAKING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18954, 3 March 1936, Page 3

FILM-MAKING

BOOM IN SYDNEY

AUSTRALIANS' HOLLY WOOD

SYDNEY. Feh. 17

This week the formation of two new and ambitious iilm-pvoducing companies litis been announced. Last week Mr. r. W. Timing announced the transler ot the entire organisation of Etftee I’ilni Productions to Sydney, Already three other well established -companies are busilv making pictures in Sydney. All this lends force lo Mr. Thnng s statement that he considers Sydney to he the "coming Hollywood ol Australia. To-day there are four studios in working order*in Sydney. Cinesound has one Bay and another at Waverlev. where scenes lor ' I horouglthrod have been made with Helen Iwelvetrees. an American avlress. in the leading role. National Studios. Limited, has two studios at Pagewood, where National Productions, Limited, 'are making ‘The Living Doctor,” with another American plaver, Charles Farrell, as the star. An English director. Mr. Miles Marnier, and an English scenario writer. Mr. John Orton, are engaged in this production Mr. Timing is to occupy studios which are now being equipped at Lane Cove by Mastereraft- Film Corporation, with which Etftee is now linked. Mr. Tinny Thurston announced this week that a syndicate to he known as International Film Productions will build studios at North Sydney, and. in the meantime, will lease an existing studio and begin its work there.

In the aggregate, all these eompaiiie propose to make more than 30 lull-ieiigtl pictures in the immediate future. Ihi estimate leaves out of account the s'om puny, with a capital of E5C0.000. wUI which Sir Charles Mart- announces the he is associated. This company is no vet ready lo make public the detail of its plans.

An idea of the’ amount of employment which will he found if these phtns are realised can be gauged bom the fact that, at one stage during the making of "Thoroughbred.” the producers said that 327 people were directly engaged m making it. including people outside the studio", such as florists, dressmakers, transport workers, and others. Expeditionary Films employed about ICO people on "l iieivihsed, which is now in ils limil stages.

Cinesouiid’s plans embrace llie making of 14 Hints in New South A ales in the coming vear in addition lo their weekly newsreel’. National Productions and an associated company intend to make live films, perhaps more. Mr. Charles Cliativel, of Expeditionary Films, has almost linished one picture and will make one more. International Film Productions plan to mu lie nine tilms. till comedies. Other producers have not yet made definite schedules public.

To-dav two well-known American players are at work in Sydney, as also is an actor brought from England. Mr. Dennis Hoey. A number of English players who came to Australia with theatrical companies have remained to appear in ‘films. Among these are Mr. John Longden and Mr. .lames Raglan. Cinesound has slated that it intends to bring more players front overseas. International rilms has engaged an English actress. Miss Doll is May lie: and is negotiating with live other oversea actresses. Many Australian players have already been engaged to appear in films dial are now being made.

Sir Charles jMart- slaled yesterday that •lie was associated with a group of business men in forming a film-producing company, with a nominal capital of £SOO.OCi). ’Hie "company had not made any arrengements regarding English capital, although it had been approached in the matter.